After a couple of failures, I’m curious if anyone has any good ideas that I’m missing…
In this post:
I’m hoping to fly SWISS Senses first class!
SWISS recently launched its new SWISS Senses cabins, available initially on newly delivered Airbus A350-900s. While I’ve reviewed the SWISS Senses A350 business class, I’d now like to check out the carrier’s A350 first class.
Now, admittedly SWISS Senses first class is basically a direct replica of Lufthansa Allegris first class, which I recently reviewed. That being said, I do try to stay on top of having tried the latest first class on all of the world’s top airlines, and that includes trying SWISS Senses.
I also want to update my list of the world’s top first class airlines, and trying the new SWISS first class is needed to do that, in my opinion. I’m pretty resourceful when it comes to miles & points, though unfortunately SWISS Senses poses a unique challenge. The airline isn’t allowing award redemptions in first class, so that means the only two options are to pay outright with cash, or to upgrade with cash.
What’s the best way to book SWISS Senses first class?
Let me share what I’ve tried up until now. I’ve written in the past about how SWISS business class tickets can be upgraded to first class with cash starting at online check-in. This includes award tickets booked with points belonging to partner frequent flyer programs.
For example, a couple of years ago I shared my experience upgrading to SWISS first class, as my partner award ticket was eligible for a cash upgrade as soon as online check-in opened. However, it seems the policy on that has changed in recent times, and I believe it’s not even specific to planes with SWISS Senses cabins.
For example, a few weeks ago I booked a SWISS business class ticket using partner points, and at online check-in I wasn’t given any option to upgrade with cash, despite all three first class seats being available.
When I called SWISS, I was told the ticket couldn’t be upgraded at online check-in because it was issued through another airline. Then just last week, I decided to redeem Miles & More miles for a SWISS business class ticket from Frankfurt (FRA) to Zurich (ZRH) to Boston (BOS), since I figured maybe that would allow an upgrade in advance.
Well, once again I wasn’t offered an upgrade, despite two seats being available during online check-in. When I called, I was told that only revenue tickets issued by Lufthansa Group are eligible for upgrades at online check-in, and not award tickets, even through Miles & More. Grrr! That’s why I ended up canceling that ticket, and instead booking Lufthansa first class using partner miles (which at least allowed me to experience the new FOX soft product).
Now, it’s my understanding that all tickets are still eligible for upgrades at the airport (or more specifically, at the departure gate), but that’s a bit too risky for me:
- With just three first class seats, a majority of flights have full first class cabins
- If I can’t get first class on the flight I’d rather not take this route again, since I’ve reviewed it before
- I live in neither Boston nor Zurich, so just being on “standby” at the airport waiting for an upgrade opportunity isn’t really practical
That leaves the other option, which is… to just pay for a ticket. Bleh, what’s the fun in that? 😉 I’m trying to find the best fare for SWISS first class or business class, particularly on the Boston route, though I’m also open to Seoul Incheon (ICN), the other current SWISS Senses destination.
SWISS does allow confirmed upgrades from business to first class on revenue tickets at the time of booking, assuming the the “A” fare class is available.
Just as an example, one could book a roundtrip from Copenhagen (CPH) to Boston with the outbound in business class and the return in economy for around $2,283.
That could then immediately be upgraded to first class on the outbound at the cost of around $2,700. So in the end, I’d be paying around $5,000 for a one-way first class ticket. As someone who likes to maximize value, that’s more than I’d like to spend!
Surely there must be a better option for maximizing value, and ideally one that doesn’t involve Cairo (CAI). 😉
My other strategy (more jokingly) is just to gamble on Lufthansa having another strike soon, booking a Lufthansa first class award from Boston to somewhere in Europe at the very last minute, and then hoping to be changed to SWISS first class. Admittedly that requires amazing timing and luck, including for the need for there to still be empty seats in first class on the SWISS A350. But hey, given the frequency of strikes at Lufthansa, maybe it’s not that unrealistic. 😉 
Bottom line
I’m hoping to try the new SWISS Senses first class product, though I’m struggling to find any sort of decent value. It seems there’s new restrictions on SWISS cash upgrades, where award tickets can only be upgraded at the departure airport, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to book a flight just to experience a specific product.
Short of outright paying cash for a first class fare, the only other decent option is to find a reasonable business class fare, and then upgrade it with cash for a not-cheap amount. Still, given the countless number of fare combinations SWISS files, I have to imagine there’s some market where one can get a deal here. So if anyone has any insights, I’d certainly appreciate them, as my lack of luck with checking this product off my list is starting to bug me!
If this can't be booked with miles/cc points in a reasonable way, why even bother reviewing this product? This is a points and miles blog, that explains What is achievable with miles, how to achieve it, and what the experience will be like? This is not Travel and Leisure blog where you review whatever new products are out there. Remember your readership?
Just a thought - not trying to be a d***k.
@ DMoney -- My priority is definitely airline products that can easily be booked with miles, though I'm also a bit of completionist when it comes to experiencing all first class products, and I'm also a general airline product geek.
Fly with me :), just got this email from Centurion: "When you book an international SWISS First flight ticket through Centurion Member Airfares™ you can access special savings offers for Centurion Members.³ "
Can't you upgrade with miles? Before the new first class was introduced, it was possible to upgrade a paid business ticket with M&M miles if the A fare category was available. These upgrades were not limited to M&M elites. But I am not sure whether this is still possible with Swiss senses.
As long as it's disclosed, what's wrong with asking Swiss for a flight for review purposes? You obviously won't be able to credibly review the service or (arguably) the food, but in terms of the hard product, that can't really be changed just to impress you. And you have your past experience of Swiss' First food and service to grade against.
Put it this way - I'd rather you compromised on the principle of buying...
As long as it's disclosed, what's wrong with asking Swiss for a flight for review purposes? You obviously won't be able to credibly review the service or (arguably) the food, but in terms of the hard product, that can't really be changed just to impress you. And you have your past experience of Swiss' First food and service to grade against.
Put it this way - I'd rather you compromised on the principle of buying your own flights, and spent that $5000 on other reviews for more accessible products (especially obscure carriers) that we might consider booking.
Him doing this with Starlux isn't a bad idea.
play around with ex-TUN F fares. TUN-BOS in J/F with two changes maybe an overnight / YYZ-LIS nonstop in Y
@ Ben -- Interesting, thank you! Out of curiosity, how are you combining F one way with Y the other? J and Y is easy since you can do it directly on SWISS' website by searching economy but then selecting business for the outbound, but I don't see the option to do that for first class.
Better to save the money by staying home . Read a book to improve your vocabulary .
Originating in Cairo obviously
CPH-ZRH-BOS biz / YYZ-LIS eco is tad cheaper ;)
Book Lufthansa first class, have it get cancelled and have Lufthansa rebook you onto Swiss first for free :)
Earn points via Rove and transfer to LH.
I booked Swiss First on a BA ticket recently. Their generous "Book away policy" allowed carrier, destination and origin changes for a Qatar First award (booked via BA Avios).